Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a herbaceous perennial plant with yellow flowers, originally from the tropical rainforests of Southern Asia. In the same family (Zingiberaceae) as tumeric and cardamom, ginger is prized for its root (rhizome), which is used as a spice and in traditional medicine. The root is harvested and can be used fresh, pickled or steeped; or can be dried and ground into a powder, and is an important flavour in many South Asian cuisines. India leads the world in ginger production, producing 34% of the world's supply. The root can also be steam-distilled to produce a pungent essential oil.

Botanical name: Zingiber officinale

Other names: Ginger, Common ginger, Jamaica ginger

Main constituents: α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, borneol, y-terpineol, nerol, neral, geraniol, geranial, geranyl acetate, β-bisabolene, zingiberene